hyperion0101
Limp Gawd
- Joined
- Sep 17, 2010
- Messages
- 148
Right now, it seems like it's time to wait before buying? I'm thinking about buying a single 680 or 7970 right now (no brand loyalties).
1. There is a shortage of 28nm parts around - TSMC may have shut down due to contamination? This means that the 7970 won't go down in price as much as we would hope (ideally to the $400-$450 range).
The custom PCB versions have traditionally had better OCs. The 7970 Lightning, Direct CU II, and pretty much every custom PCB have not had better than reference overclocks, signalling that the supply for "good" 28nm parts is probably non-existent or they would be more likely to be harvested for these custom PCBs which are really flagship cards.
2. In a couple of months, there is a 100% chance that custom PCB Nvidia cards are coming. There will be a n680GTX Lightning (which I am waiting for), a Direct CU II 680, and other ones from pretty much every GPU maker. Already custom ones are coming out.
3. Once the supply clears up, there should be some downward pressure on AMD - it really depends on how much they cut prices by. Plus right now inventories of the old generation need to clear up? I'm not expecting sudden drops in prices of 7970s yet - they are out of stock even at $550+ USD/CAD at times.
4. Of course, there is always the pervasive rumor that there is a GK110. If true, then we're talking about a price not seen since the 8800 Ultra, although this time the performance may actually scale up. Power consumption will probably be at GTX 480 levels.
Whether or not it will lead to price cuts on these "mid-range" 680s when it is released (likely H2) remains to be seen.
Is waiting the better strategy right now?
1. There is a shortage of 28nm parts around - TSMC may have shut down due to contamination? This means that the 7970 won't go down in price as much as we would hope (ideally to the $400-$450 range).
The custom PCB versions have traditionally had better OCs. The 7970 Lightning, Direct CU II, and pretty much every custom PCB have not had better than reference overclocks, signalling that the supply for "good" 28nm parts is probably non-existent or they would be more likely to be harvested for these custom PCBs which are really flagship cards.
2. In a couple of months, there is a 100% chance that custom PCB Nvidia cards are coming. There will be a n680GTX Lightning (which I am waiting for), a Direct CU II 680, and other ones from pretty much every GPU maker. Already custom ones are coming out.
3. Once the supply clears up, there should be some downward pressure on AMD - it really depends on how much they cut prices by. Plus right now inventories of the old generation need to clear up? I'm not expecting sudden drops in prices of 7970s yet - they are out of stock even at $550+ USD/CAD at times.
4. Of course, there is always the pervasive rumor that there is a GK110. If true, then we're talking about a price not seen since the 8800 Ultra, although this time the performance may actually scale up. Power consumption will probably be at GTX 480 levels.
Whether or not it will lead to price cuts on these "mid-range" 680s when it is released (likely H2) remains to be seen.
Is waiting the better strategy right now?